'Blogger' eyewear

Researchers at the Human Media Lab, Queen's University (Ontario, Canada), have developed a pair of sunglasses that can perceive if someone is making visual contact with the wearer.

According to Roel Vertegaal, one of the creators, the system could play a key role in 'video-blogging', a variant of weblog, the online diary. The glasses will let video-bloggers perceive and automatically record interactions and conversations with other people.

The glasses consists of a pair of normal lenses with a mini-camera mounted on the bridge between the lenses. The camera is computer connected at the sides and it records the images being shown.

Another possible application for the eyewear is the creation of sensory devices similar to mobile phones. The Vertegaal team has in fact designed an icon which appears on the caller's phone and indicates that the person being called is too busy to answer. The biggest problem is that the system works only if you're no more than one meter from whoever is wearing the glasses. But the Canadian team is working on a new system that will extend operation up to four meters.

(Source: Galileonet)